The Best Books For Kids in 2018, as Voted by Actual Kids and Parents Who Read Them

What it's about: "On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, NJ . . . until her parents mysteriously vanish and a drooling rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents' fantastical stories — like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess and how she comes from a secret place not of this world."

Ages it's aimed at: 8-12 years

The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasGupta ($13, originally $18)